Thalatha becomes first-ever female General Secretary of a major party

• UNP appoints her to the key post   

By Yohan Perera  

The United National Party (UNP) leaders yesterday took a  key decision by appointing Ms. Thalatha Athukorala as its first-ever  female General Secretary. 

 
She also becomes the first General Secretary of any major political party in Sri Lanka.   

Ms. Athukorala’s brother, the late Gamini Athukorala also  served as the 18th General Secretary of the party and held the post  from 1994 to 2000.   

Ms. Athukorala will be the 27th General Secretary of the  party. Late H. W. Amarasuriya was the first General Secretary of the  party when it was formed in 1946. The party had joint General  Secretaries from 1958 to 1971. Lakshman Jayasundara, M. D. H.  Jayawardene, Gamini Jayasuriya, J. R. Jayewardene and Jinadasa  Niyathapala were joint secretaries during the given period.   

Ananda Tissa de Alwis, Daham Wimalasena, Harsha Abeywardena  and Nandalal Fernando. Ranjan Wijeratne and Sirisena Cooray, Gamini  Wijesekera, Senarath Kapukotuwa, Milroy Perera, K. V. K. Weragoda, Tissa  Attanayake, Kabir Hashim, Akila Viraj Kariyawasam and Palitha Range  Bandara held the General Secretary’s post during the latter years.   

UNP Chairman Wajira Abeywardena said the party has also  decided to contest the future elections under the elephant symbol. “We are  ready to face any challenge for the sake of the party.   

He said Jeewan Thondaman is the only UNPer who is  representing the party in Parliament today. Asked whether Ravi  Karunanayake is not considered as a UNPer. “ Karunanayake cannot be  considered as a party member as he is facing a disciplinary inquiry. His  fate will be decided upon by the disciplinary committee,” Abeywardena  stressed.  

• Ms. Athukorala will be the 27th General Secretary of the  party